For more toy news and reviews, be sure to check out our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ki0079.robot.workshops
I've been collecting and enjoying S.H.Figuarts Iron Man figures for a while, and they've always been solid. But this new Iron Man, designed by Eiichi Shimizu, is something else entirely. While it bears the "Iron Man" name, you should approach it as a completely new type of figure. It offers a truly fresh and fantastic experience. Here are my thoughts:
An Outstanding Design You Can't Stop Looking At.
Coming from Eiichi Shimizu, the designer behind the hit "ULTRAMAN" manga and anime, this Iron Man definitely has some of that Ultraman DNA. However, Shimizu has masterfully captured the core essence of Iron Man, so there's no mistaking who this is. The figure features powerful, robust lines, a tough exterior, and sharp, distinct angles, giving it a strong mechanical aesthetic. On top of that, the paint application is first-class and absolutely gorgeous to behold.
Incredible Articulation for Signature Poses.
Being a humanoid figure, there's very little to get in the way of its movement. Building on this solid foundation, the designers have implemented an extremely high level of articulation, with the waist's range of motion being particularly impressive. While the ankle articulation is a bit more limited, it's a minor flaw in an otherwise stellar package.
Tight Joints for Solid, Stable Posing.
Not only is this figure highly articulated, but its joints are also perfectly tensioned. They're tight, but not to the point where you fear snapping something, nor are they loose. This allows it to hold poses with exceptional stability, so you don't have to worry about it sagging over time. Of course, long-term durability with frequent posing or individual QC issues remains to be seen.
Thoughtful Weaponry and Easy Handling.
The Iron Man armor is a weapon in itself, and the figure comes with two repulsor blast effects for the hands and two for the feet. The translucent effect parts look great, especially when lit. The other major accessory set is the DH-10 Armor. To equip it, you'll need to swap the faceplate, shoulder armor, attach a large cannon to the left arm, add heat vent structures to the sides of the calves, and then mount the massive backpack unit (which gives off some serious OO Raiser vibes). The flight unit has some minor articulation but cannot be separated from the main pack; it's designed purely to be worn on the back.
The flight unit includes three thruster effects, and the large cannon on the left arm can also be fitted with a blast effect by swapping the muzzle. Another great point is that all the add-on parts attach very securely, which should drastically reduce the chance of pieces falling off while you're posing it.
New vs. Old: A Tale of Two Iron Men.
I grabbed another Iron Man figure off my shelf (just a random pick, not a carefully selected one) for a quick comparison. Each has its own distinct charm. The movie version, the Mark 85, has a more organic, humanoid feel with smoother, more rounded lines. The Shimizu version, by contrast, is pure, unadulterated mechanical armor.
After all that praise, let's talk about the drawbacks.
The Included Stand Isn't Ideal.
Presumably to maintain a clean look, the figure itself has no peg holes for a stand. Tamashii thoughtfully included a display stand, but since there's no port, they provide a claw-style clamp along with a cradle piece that cups the figure's rear. For collectors who want to pull off dynamic action poses, this setup is definitely not fun to work with. The cradle severely restricts movement. As a result, I ended up using stands from my own collection to properly handle this figure.
The Effect Parts Could Be Bigger.
It's a bit of a shame that all the effect parts are the same translucent blue and are a tad too small. When attached, they aren't always that visible. If they were a bit larger, the visual impact would be much better.
Minor Interference Between Thighs and Hip Armor.
To get the figure into its signature kneeling pose from the official photos, you'll have to do some careful maneuvering. Be warned: if you follow the official pose, the left thigh is very likely to rub against the hip armor, which could cause paint chipping. Handle with care!
Not Enough Hand Options.
The figure only comes with three pairs of hands: closed fists, slightly open hands, and wide-open hands (for the repulsor effects). The "slightly open" hands are a bit awkward, as the fingers are posed in a very "timid" way. It's a small detail, but a bit of a letdown. These are all minor issues, though.
A Greedy Wish: An Unmasked Head.
If possible, it would have been great to have an unmasked Tony Stark head for swapping. An anime-style design would have been perfectly fine. Given Bandai's track record with live-action likenesses, it's probably better for our collective happiness to pretend this was never a possibility.
Overall, this is a figure bursting with character. If you're a fan of Eiichi Shimizu's designs, like his work on "ULTRAMAN", you will absolutely have a blast with this Iron Man.
For more toy news and reviews, be sure to check out our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ki0079.robot.workshops
Here's the rest of the photo gallery:
